For Fall Winter 2017 Erdem has imagined a meeting in the early 20th Century of his great grandmothers. His mother’s grandmother was from Ashton-under-Lyne, then part of Lancashire, in the north of England. His father’s grandmother was from eastern Turkey. There is a feeling of apprehension; distant family members of different worlds meeting for the first time. With few clues beyond these facts and no photographs of either woman, Erdem has brought the collection to life based on a dialogue and interweaving of cultural traditions. Her clothes are an expression of this cross-cultural dialogue. They have an English propriety, embellished with Ottoman character to become something more interesting. The mixing of panels and patch-working of different fabrics gives a layered richness.

Turkish miniatures, printed on silk velvet, contain English motifs. Prince of Wales wool has Ottoman detailing. Diaphanous pleated dresses with inserted ribbons, velvet, lace and sequins, have an ethereal beauty. The mix of English and Ottoman is bold and intricate in equal measure. It is a collection that feels rich in texture, shape, print, colour and detail, in places familiar and in others exotic. More than a chance meeting of two distinguished women from two different countries and cultures, the collection embodies the spirit of discovery and of exchange.

Related: Fashion Week Ready to Wear Fall 2017 | London

Source: FB/Erdem
Courtesy of Erdem